The new feature works by collecting data from InfoSight's installed base of more than 10,000 HPE Nimble Storage systems. The AI engine then uses the data it collects to predict and prevent problems, from storage to applications, before they manifest. By using past experience as a guide, it's able to advise users on how to avoid issues, improve performance, and optimize available resources.

HPE claims the new feature will be able to reduce the time spent troubleshooting issues by up to 85 percent and lower storage operating expenses by 79 percent.

"HPE InfoSight marks the first time a major storage vendor has been able to predict issues and proactively resolve them before a customer is even aware of the problem," Bill Philbin, SVP for HPE's GM Storage Unit said in a statement. "As applications increasingly drive today’s businesses, we need to help customers move toward a self-managing IT model. HPE InfoSight enables IT to spend more time on projects that add value to the business rather than on troubleshooting issues."

Philbin's use of the term "first time" might be a bit overreaching. A similar feature, also combining data collected from an installed base with machine learning, was added to flash storage provider Kaminario's Clarity platform in October.

Although HPE's use of AI to predict potential problems will at first be limited to storage, the company hints this is the first move in a process which will eventually see AI powered predictive analysis spanning the entire data center infrastructure.

"HPE InfoSight lays the groundwork for an autonomous data center with the new AI recommendation engine," the company said in the product announcement.

The company also said that when InfoSight is made available for 3PAR, its users will see a wide range of new capablilties brought to the table:

Cross-stack analytics: For 3PAR customers running the latest release of the 3PAR operating system, HPE InfoSight will provide the ability to resolve performance issues and pinpoint the root causes of problems between storage and host virtual machines. It also provides visibility to locate "noisy neighbor" VMs.

Global visibility: Through a cloud portal that combines HPE Infosight and HPE StoreFront Remote, current 3PAR customers with remotely connected systems will see detailed performance trending, capacity predictions, health checks and best practice information across the 3PAR arrays.

Foundation to enable predictive support: Analytics and automation infrastructure are now in place that in the future will be used to detect anomalies, predict complex problems, and route cases directly to Level 3 support.

HPE InfoSight with the AI recommendation engine will be available January 2018 to all HPE Nimble Storage and 3PAR customers with an active support contract at no additional charge.